Sony have confirmed a number of new hardware items for the PlayStation 2, at their pre-E3 press conference in Los Angeles.
The USB connected EyeToy camera will finally launch before the end of the year, and will film players movements, representing them on screen, and allowing for interaction based on hand movements. EyeToy is expected to retail for $39 (about £30) and will come with 12 mini-games covering genres including music, puzzle, and sports.
A USB headset is also in development for the console, allowing for voice control of both online and offline games via a voice recognition system. Use of Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) will allow gamers to speak with each other during gameplay in a similar way to how the Xbox Communicator headset works.
The headset will work with an initial line-up of games including SOCOM II: U.S Navy SEALs, Syphon Filter: The Omega Strain, NFL GameDay 2004, NBA ShootOut 2004, and NCAA GameBreaker 2004. Numerous third party titles confirmed to be including functions which will be compatible. The USB Headset is expected to be released at the end of the Summer, priced at $29 (about £23).
Finally Sony confirmed that they will be launching a PlayStation 2 Online Pack, which will have all the items needed to connect a PlayStation 2 up with their online gaming network, in Sony's words "enticing mainstream audiences to embrace online gaming".
The pack will include a PlayStation 2 and the required network adapter, allowing you to connect up to the Sony PlayStation online gaming network - this pack will replace the existing console only hardware, and will retail for the same price ($199/£150) as the existing PS2 console, when it goes on sale in the summer.
Related article: E3 2003: Sony take the PlayStation Portable
GamesPaper listed on NewsNow.co.uk
 |
 | Our headlines are listed on NewsNow's |
|
|
Gamers made aware of memory importance
The amount of memory in your computer could be crucial to enjoyment of the latest games titles, which can benefit from new high-performance Ballistix RAM.
It's suggested that most PC owners could at least double their computers memory, in many cases giving even old PC's a new lease of life or new powerful PC's their true full potential. Find out here how much and which RAM your computer needs.
Speed boost for British gamers
Internet service providers across the UK have been increasing connection speeds rapidly over the past few months, with new higher speed 8Mbps products from BT Total Broadband and other major ADSL providers.
The new faster speeds are already being offered in some parts of the country, where operator UK Online are providing a Home 22Mbps service over selected BT telephone lines in major urban areas.
Meanwhile gamers living in Telewest and NTL cabled areas can now receive up to 10Mbps download speeds on the top consumer package.
|
» More GamesPaper: News Reviews Previews Features Downloads
